China’s Policy Towards Afghanistan in the Aftermath of the U.S. Withdrawal

Abstract

This paper investigates China’s expanded involvement in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the United States and NATO forces in 2021. The U.S. withdrawal profoundly changed the regional security landscape, providing China with an opportunity to enhance its strategic and economic engagement with Afghanistan. This research explores how China’s economic, security, and strategic engagement in Afghanistan enhances its regional clout, especially regarding counterterrorism initiatives, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity. It also discusses the difficulties China faces in negotiating Afghanistan’s complicated political environment, including the instability brought on by the Taliban's rule and the involvement of other regional and international actors. Using the theoretical framework of geoeconomics and geopolitics, this study analyzes the evolving relationship between China and Afghanistan from a broader contextual perspective. Through the study of key primary documents and qualitative interviews with the policymakers and scholars, it contributes to a deeper understanding of the changing dynamics of China-Afghanistan interactions.

Keywords: Geo-Economics, Geopolitics, BRI, China-Afghanistan Relations.